Coaxial cable end preparation tool and related methods

Abstract

A cable end preparation tool for a coaxial cable may include a body having first and second opposing ends with a first recess in the first end, and a first blade carried by the body within the first recess for stripping an outer jacket of the cable to expose a portion of an outer conductor when the body is rotated relative to the cable. A second blade may be carried by the body within the first recess for stripping the outer conductor and a dielectric layer to expose a portion of an inner conductor when the body is rotated relative to the cable. The tool may further include a coring bit carried by the second end of the body for removing a portion of the dielectric layer between the inner conductor and the exposed portion of the outer conductor when the body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable.

1 . A cable end preparation tool for a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric layer, and an outer jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the cable end preparation tool comprising:
 a body having first and second opposing ends with a first recess in the first end thereof;   a first blade carried by said body and extending within the first recess for stripping the outer jacket to expose a portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable;   a second blade carried by said body and also extending within the first recess for stripping the outer conductor and dielectric layer to expose a portion of the inner conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable; and   a coring bit carried by the second end of said body for removing a portion of the dielectric layer between the inner conductor and the exposed portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable.   
     
     
         2 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said coring bit has a predetermined shape for flaring the exposed portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable. 
     
     
         3 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said coring bit comprises a cutting head with a central opening therein for receiving the exposed inner conductor. 
     
     
         4 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body further has a coring bit recess therein for receiving said coring bit. 
     
     
         5 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 4  wherein said coring bit and the coring bit recess are rectangular. 
     
     
         6 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 4  wherein said body has a second recess in the second end thereof; and wherein said coring bit recess is within the second recess. 
     
     
         7 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said coring bit has marking indicia thereon; and wherein said body has an indicia reading opening therein aligned with the marking indicia. 
     
     
         8 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said first and second blades are removably mounted to said body. 
     
     
         9 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body has a plurality of surface gripping features on an external surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body has a longitudinal center axis, and at least one hole therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
         13 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 1  wherein said body has a visual indicator on an exterior surface thereof corresponding to a longitudinal spacing between said first and second blades. 
     
     
         14 . A cable end preparation tool for a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric layer, and an outer jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the cable end preparation tool comprising:
 a body having first and second opposing ends with a first recess in the first end thereof;   a first blade carried by said body and extending within the first recess for stripping the outer jacket to expose a portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable;   a second blade carried by said body and also extending within the first recess for stripping the outer conductor and dielectric layer to expose a portion of the inner conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable; and   a coring bit carried by the second end of said body for removing a portion of the dielectric layer between the inner conductor and the exposed portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable;   said coring bit comprising a cutting head with a central opening therein for receiving the exposed inner conductor, and said cutting head having a predetermined shape for flaring the exposed portion of the outer conductor when said body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable.   
     
     
         15 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 14  wherein said body further has a coring bit recess therein for receiving said coring bit. 
     
     
         16 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 15  wherein said coring bit and the coring bit recess are rectangular. 
     
     
         17 . The cable end preparation tool of  claim 14  wherein said coring bit has marking indicia thereon; and wherein said body has an indicia reading opening therein aligned with the marking indicia. 
     
     
         18 . A cable end preparation method for a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric layer, and an outer jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the method comprising:
 providing a cable end preparation tool comprising a body having first and second opposing ends with a first recess in the first end thereof, first and second blades carried by the body and extending within the first recess, and a coring bit carried by the second end of the body;   positioning the coaxial cable in the first recess and rotating the body relative to the coaxial cable to strip the outer jacket to expose a portion of the outer conductor using the first blade, and to strip the outer conductor and dielectric layer to expose a portion of the inner conductor using the second blade; and   positioning the coring bit on the coaxial cable and rotating the body relative to the coaxial cable so that the coring bit removes a portion of the dielectric layer between the inner conductor and the exposed portion of the outer conductor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coring bit has a predetermined shape for flaring the exposed portion of the outer conductor when the body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coring bit comprises a cutting head with a central opening therein; and wherein positioning the coring bit comprises positioning the central opening to receive the exposed inner conductor. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the body further has a coring bit recess therein for receiving the coring bit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the coring bit has marking indicia thereon; and wherein the body has an indicia reading opening therein aligned with the marking indicia.